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feeming knowledge, when we should fubmit ourselves to an unknown * fear.

Par. Why, 'tis the rareft argument of wonder that hath shot out in our later times.

Ber. And fo 'tis.

Laf. To be relinquish'd of the artists

Par. So I fay, both of Galen and Paracelfus.
Laf. Of all the learn'd and authentic fellows

Par. Right, fo I fay.

Laf. That gave him out incurable,

Par. Why, there 'tis, fo fay I too.

Laf. Not to be help'd, ---

Par. Right, as it were a man afssur'd of an-
Laf. Uncertain life, and fure death,-
Par. Just, you fay well: fo would I have faid.
Laf. I may truly fay, it is a novelty to the world.
Par. It is indeed, if you will have it in fhewing, you

thall read it in, what do you call there -

Laf. A shewing of a heav'nly effect in an earthly actor. Par. That's it, I would have faid the very lame. Laf. Why, your dolphin is not lustier: for me, I speak in respect

Par. Nay, 'tis strange, 'tis very strange, that is the brief and the tedious of it; and he's of a moft facinerious spirit, that will not acknowledge it to be the Laf. Very hand of heav'n.

Par. Ay, fo I fay.

Laf. In a most weak

Par. And debile minister, great power, great transcendence; which would indeed give us +*** a farther use to be made than alone the recov'ry of the King;

as to be

Laf. Generally thankful.

SCENE VI. Enter King, Helena, ana attendants. Par. I would have faid it, you faid well. Here comes the King.

* Unknown, for fupernatural.

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+Two or hre woras em to have been dropt here, which appear to have been to this purpose, give us [notice, that there is of thie] a fartber uje to be made.

D 3

haf.

Laf. Lustic, as the Dutchman says: I'll like a maid the better while I have a tooth in my head: why, he's able to lead her a corranto.

Par. Mort du Vinaigre! is not this Helen?
Laf. 'Fore God, I think fo.

King. Go call before me all the Lords in court.
Sit, my preserver, by thy patient's fide;
And with this healthful hand, whose banish'd sense
Thou hast repeal'd, a second time receive
The confirmation of my promis'd gift;
Which but attends thy naming.

Enter three or four Lords.

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Fair maid, fend forth thine eye; this youthful parcel
Of noble batchelors stand at my bestowing,
O'er whom both sov'reign power and father's voice
I have to use; thy frank election make;
Thou hast power to chuse, and they none to forfake.
Hel. To each of you one fair and virtuous mistress 1
Fall, when love please ! marry, to each but one.
Laf. I'd give bay curtal and his furniture,
My mouth no more were broken than these boys,
And writ as little beard.

King. Peruse them well :

Not one of those but had a noble father.

[She addresses herself to a Lord.

Hel. Gentlemen, heaven hath, through me, restor'd The King to health.

All. We understand it, and thank heaven for you.
Hel. I am a fimple maid, and therein wealthieft,

That, I protest, I simply am a maid.-
Please it your Majesty, I have done already:
The blushes in my cheeks thus whisper me,
We blush that thou should'st chuse, but be refus'd;
Let the white death fit on thy cheek for ever,
We'll ne'er come there again.

King. Make choice, and fee

Who Thuns thy love, shuns all his love in me.
Hel. Now, Dian, from thy altar do I fly,
And to impartial Love, that god most high,
Do my fighs stream. Sir, will you hear my fuit?
I Lord. And grant it.

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Hel.

Hel. Thanks, Sir; all the rest is mute. Laf. I had rather be in this choice, than throw Ames-ace for my life.

Hel. The honour, Sir, that flames in your fair eyes, Before I speak, too threat'ningly replies:

[To the second Lord.

Love makes your fortunes twenty times above
Her that fo wishes, and her humble love!
2 Lord. No better, if you please.

Hel. My wish receive,

Which great love grant! and so I take my leave. Laf. Do all they deny her? If they were fons of mine, I'd have them whipt, or I would send them to the Turk to make eunuchs of.

Hel. Be not afraid that I your hand should take; [To the third.

I'll never do you wrong for your own fake;
Bleffing upon your vows, and in your bed
Find fairer fortune, if you ever wed !

Laf. These boys are boys of ice, they'll none of her; fure they are bastards to the English, the French ne'er got 'em.

Hel. You are too young, too happy, and too good, To make yourself a fon out of my blood.

[To the fourth.

4 Lord. Fair one, I think not fo.
Laf. There's one grape yet,
Par. I am fure thy father drunk wine.-
Laf. But if thou be'st not an ass, I am a
Youth of fourteen. I have known thee already.

Hel. I dare not say I take you; but I give
Me and my fervice, ever whilft I live,
Into your guided power. This is the man. [To Bertram.
King. Why then, young Bertram, take her, she's

thy wife,

Ber. My wife, my liege? I shall beseech your

In such a business give me leave to use

The help of mine own eyes.

King. Know'st thou not, Bertram,

What the hath done for me?

Ber. Yes, my good Lord,

[Highness

But never hope to know why I should marry her.

4

King. Thou know'st, she has rais'd me from my fickly bed.

Ber. But follows it, my Lord, to bring me down Must answer for your rifing? I know her well : See had her breeding at my father's charge: A poor physician's daughter my wife! Difdain Rather corrupt me ever !

King. 'Tis only title thou difdain'st in her, the which I can build up: ftrange is it, that our bloods, Of colour weight, and heat, pour'd all together, Would quite confound diftinction, yet stand off In differences fo mighty. If she be All that is virtuous, fave what thou diflik'ft A poor phyfician's daughter, thou diflik'ft Of virtue for the name : but do not fo. From lowest place when virtuous things proceed, The place is dignify'd by th' doer's deed. Where great addition swells, and virtue none, It is a dropfied honour: good alone Is good; and, with a name, vileness is fo: The property by what it is should go. Not by the title, She's good, wife, fair; In these, to nature she's immediate heir; And these breed honour. That is honour's scorn, Which challenges itself as honour's born, And is not like the fire. Honours best thrive, When rather from our acts we them derive Than our foregoers: the mere word's a flave Debauch'd on ev'ry tomb, on ev'ry grave; A lying trophy; as oft is dumb, Where duft and damn'd oblivion is the tomb Of honour'd bones indeed. What should be faid? If thou can'st like this creature as a maid, I can create the rest: virtue and the

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Is her own dow'r; honour and wealth from me.
Ber. I cannot love her, nor will strive to do't.
King. Thou wrong'st thyself, if thou should'st strive

to chufe.

Hel. That you are well restor'd, my Lord, I'm glad : Let the rest go

King. My honour's at the stake; which to defend, I muft produce my power. Here, take her hand,

Proud

Proud scornful boy, unworthy this good gift!
That doth in vile misprision shackle up
My love, and her defert; that canst not dream,
We, poizing us in her defective fcale,
Shall weigh thee to the beam; that wilt not know,
It is in us to plant thine honour, where
We please to have it grow. Check thy contempt:
Obey our will, which travels in thy good;
Believe not thy disdain, but presently
Do thine own fortunes that obedient right,
Which both thy duty owes, and our power claims;
Or I will throw thee from my care for ever
Into the staggers, and the careless lapse
Of youth and ignorance; my revenge and hate
Loofing upon thee in the name of justice,
Without all terms of pity. Speak thine answer.

Ber. Pardon, my gracious Lord; for I fubmit
My fancy to your eyes. When I confider,
What great creation, and what dole of honour
Flies where you bid; I find that the, which late
Was in my nobler thoughts most base, is now
the prized of the King; who so ennobled,
Is as 'twere born fo.

King. Take her by the hand,

And tell her, she is thine; to whom I promife

A counterpoize; if not in thy eftate,

A balance more replete.

Ber. I take her hand.

King. Good fortune and the favour of the King

Smile upon this contract; whose ceremony
Shall feem expedient on the new-born brief,
And be perform'd to-night; the folemn feast
Shall more attend upon the coming space.
Expecting absent friends. As thou lov'st her,
Thy love's to me religious; else does err.

:

C

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII. Manent Parolles and Lafeu. Laf. Do you hear, Monfieur? a word with you. Par. Your pleafure, Sir?

Laf. Your lord and mafter did well to make his recantation.

Par. Recantation?-my lord? my master ?

Laf.

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